Former US president Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of refusing to “make a deal” to end the war with Russia.
“We keep giving billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal, Zelensky,” Trump said during a campaign rally in North Carolina, expressing his frustration. The Republican presidential candidate went on to mock Zelensky, claiming that “every time he came to our country, he’d walk away with $60 billion,” and sarcastically referred to him as “probably the greatest salesman on Earth.”
Trump questioned the current state of Ukraine, saying, “What do you have left now? The country is absolutely obliterated.”
Reports had suggested the possibility of a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelensky during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but US media indicated that the meeting may be canceled. This came after Zelensky’s interview with The New Yorker, in which he suggested that Trump, 78, “doesn’t really know how to stop the war.”
Trump’s comments followed Zelensky’s address to the United Nations, where he accused Russia of planning potentially catastrophic attacks on Ukrainian nuclear plants.
Earlier this month, Trump claimed to have a “guaranteed” plan to end the war but said he would not reveal it unless he wins the US presidential election. He has also repeatedly stated he could settle the conflict between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours, without providing details.
In recent months, Trump has been vocal in his criticism of US financial aid to Ukraine and has urged European nations to contribute more. When contacted by AFP, Trump’s team declined to confirm whether the planned meeting with Zelensky had been officially canceled.